Chapter 151

(151) Steam-san, its your turn now

Translator: Tseirp

Measuring by eye, the water temperature was 55 degrees. However, measuring temperature by sight is a little awkward, as the only thing that can be judged is the amount of steam and that its a measuring method that can easily be overturned just by using dry ice. Actually, the amount of steam changes with humidity, wind speed and etc so theres also a need to measure the surrounding temperature first but I believed that my prediction was roughly correct.

Thats why, I had to lower the temperature by at least 10, no, 15 degrees before we could enter the hot spring. I really wanted to toss dry ice into it.

Thus, I immediately used that.

Ice!

I tried using the Iceskill I learned after reaching Ice Magic II. A huge icicle pierced the surface of the hot spring and floated up.

I described it as huge but its length was only about 3 meters.

Using that alone would be like pouring water on a hot stone.

Fumu .

At this rate, even if I continuously used Ice, it would take quite some time.

If thats the case, I used that skill instead.

Magical Power Boost!

Super boosted Ice Magic, to describe it in words, it was as if I released a spell capable of annihilating a company of enemy troops. I felt it rob me of my magical power from the depths of my body.

It was a contradiction to see that magical power accumulating when my magical power was being snatched.

I condensed the power within my hand.

If its now, if its now, I can use it!

Boooooooooost Iceeeeeeeee!

Ice proficiency level increased to Lv2

I collapsed as I heard the message that my ice proficiency went up. My magical power had been depleted.

Maybe because I was rushing to enter the hot spring, I forgot to switch my main job to Magician.

Thats why I immediately fell into magical power depletion.

Even so, the power was overwhelming.

Not only was there a huge piece of ice floating in the center of the hot spring, there was a thin layer of ice stretched across the water surface. Just like an ice skating rink. It was glittering.

I, I overdid it

Or so I thought but the ice on the hot spring surface quickly melted and steam once again rose up.

Oh?

I crawled closer to the hot spring and placed my hand in it.

Water temperature 43 degrees. It was slightly hot but its safe to enter.

The ice chunk in the center was still there so maybe the temperature would fall to about 38 degrees in the end?

I, Ichino-sama, do you really want to enter a hot spring that badly?

Precisely by doing this much that it would feel better when I enter Sorry but could I enter first?

I said as I somehow got up to and maintained a sitting position before I started taking my shirt off.

Er, could Carol enter the hot spring now as well?

Carol you.

Thats right, I knew about Carols feelings.

I see, Carol wants to enter the hot spring too. But, I have to be the first to enter the hot spring after all in Japan, Miri was always stealing the first place.

Miri liked hot springs to quite a considerable extent. Just like a certain young lady from Genji.

No, I wish to enter the hot spring together with Ichino-sama.

Ah, hahaha, so Carol wants to enter together huh.

A male and female entering hot springs together, thats already a mixed bath.

Mixed bath huh, thats the dream of most men. A mans romance.

Now that I think about it, last year, I went to a spa town with Miri. At that time, I heard that there was a mixed bath nearby (But the dressing rooms were separate and men and women could enter together but there was a boundary inside the hot spring that the genders could not cross) and I sneaked away from Miri and secretly went to the mixed bath (Like a crocodile lying in wait for young women to enter).

After waiting for about an hour, I thought I heard the voice of a young woman and turned around to see.

Its the young woman Onii wanted to see. How is it, are you excited?

Miri appeared saying those words.

I wanted to scream Whats the romance in going to mixed bath with a younger sister!. I wanted to scream If I want to, I can do so anytime I wish at home!. Even before those, I shouted, I cant enter a mixed bath with a younger sister who hasnt even gotten married! and completely denying what Ive been doing, I immediately made my younger sister leave the mixed bath. Incidentally, when we left the hot spring, there was a temporary closed signage put up at the hot spring house which explained why there werent any women or men entering. Its a pathetic story whereby both the brother and sister overlooked the conspicuous sign.

The next day, in that spa town, I heard a story of a girl who put in a lot of money to book an entire hot spring for three hours to enter the hot spring together with the guy she likes. I cursed that enviable man. As expected, to fully enjoy a mixed bath, unlike a guy like me who travels with his younger sister, it would have to be a Riaju-like guy so after that incident, I no longer held any expectations towards mixed baths.

After that long reminiscence, I shook my head.

No no, that would be bad. Entering the hot spring together.

Why?

Usually men and women enter separately for hot springs right?

But, Ichino-sama said Carol was still young so, er, you said wont do e ecchi stuff.

I did say that.

I dont remember saying it so explicitly but I certainly did say something similar before.

Would Ichino-sama will feel guilty if he sees Carols naked body and er, do weird things?

Definitely not! I will not do something Carol doesnt feel comfortable with.

Then, there shouldnt be any problems entering the hot springs together right?

Eh? Really?

Once she put it that way, I realized that it didnt seem that there would be any problems entering the hot spring with Carol.

There wont be any problems entering the hot springs together?

No problems. Carol will help Ichino-sama wash his back.

Lets enter together?

Yes

Seeing Carol nod with a smile, I somehow could not wipe off the feeling that I had made a huge mistake and that I was talked into it by Carol.

I took off my clothes and entered the hot spring.

Naturally, I did not forget to use the Lifestyle Magic Clean on myself as a substitute to showering before entering the hot spring.

I also applied Cleanon Carol while she had her clothes on.

Its a strange feeling to clean the body before entering the bath.

She said but the purpose of a hot spring is to not only cleanse the body but also for relaxation.

The temperature of the hot spring was lowered to about 41 degrees. It might have been a little hot for Carol.

Putting that aside I looked down at my feet. From the way the rocks were organized, the hot spring did not look natural no matter how I looked at it.

Even though I say that, there were no traces of anyone living there and there wasnt any path either.

However, there was something strange.

There wasnt much debris floating on the surface of the hot spring.

Normally, a natural hot spring like that should have leaves and such floating on the surface. I wonder just what was the reason behind it?

As I was lost in thought.

Ichino-sama, how is the water?

Its a little hot but it feels good.

I turned back to reply to realize my enormous mistake Carol was there without a single thread on her.

This, isnt this quite bad?

If handled poorly, wont this enter the adults section?

The sole saving grace was that steam-san was still doing his work properly even now.